Sayart.net - The Waning Allure of Celebrity Sob Stories: Korean TV Struggles to Sustain Viewers′ Interest

"Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny" (SBS)

Once hailed for their captivating personal stories on reality and talk shows, Korean celebrities are now facing a declining interest from viewers. In recent years, many TV personalities have invited audiences into their homes, sharing intimate moments with family and friends, allowing fans to witness almost every aspect of their lives.

Actors Choo Ja-hyun and Yu Xiaoguang are among the stars who garnered widespread acclaim through SBS' reality show "Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny" in 2017. The couple's captivating portrayal of their drama-like married life and Choo's lesser-known stories, particularly her rise to fame in the Chinese entertainment industry as a Korean actor, ignited what became known as the "ChooYu syndrome," signifying their seemingly boundless popularity.

At the peak of their fame, Choo and Yu received the Best Couple award at the 2017 SBS Entertainment Awards, while their show episodes reached a viewership of 10 to 12 percent, topping the ratings among all TV shows in the same time slot.

However, as the couple returned to the show four years later to star in the 100th episode of "Same Bed, Different Dreams 2" in 2019, and subsequently to celebrate the show's 300th episode on July 17, the response from viewers was notably lukewarm. The show allocated two full episodes exclusively to Choo and Yu, believing their story, especially in the aftermath of Yu's cheating scandal in 2021, would generate immense public interest.

Yet, this time, the reception was different. Viewer responses were rather cold, with some expressing fatigue over stars airing their personal grievances on TV. The episodes focusing on Choo and Yu, aired on July 17 and Monday, respectively, recorded viewership ratings of 7.6 and 6.4 percent, just marginally higher than other "Same Bed, Different Dreams 2" episodes.

The phenomenon of "celebrity sob story fatigue" appears to be taking its toll, with viewers feeling overwhelmed by repetitive narratives and a plethora of programs turning personal tales into dramatic content.

For instance, SBS' recent show "Strong Heart League," an attempt to revive the broadcaster's previous hit talk show "Strong Heart" (2009-2013), struggled to achieve impressive viewership, with all episodes recording single-digit ratings below four percent.

KBS' variety show "Beat Coin" also experienced lackluster viewership despite featuring comedian Hong Jin-kyung's emotional counseling session, drawing only a 1.4 percent viewership.

While some viewers acknowledge that celebrities may not be fabricating their stories, there appears to be a growing disconnect between the stars' complaints and viewers' ability to empathize with them. With many expressing a desire to avoid spending time on such content, TV networks face the challenge of reinvigorating audience interest in reality and talk shows featuring personal stories of Korean celebrities.

Sayart.net 

Sayart, sayart2022@gmail.com